I am profoundly saddened to learn of the brutal assassination of
Luis Donaldo Colosio, the Presidential candidate of the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico. I deeply deplore this senseless
act of violence and have conveyed my deepest sympathies to the Mexican
people and to the family of Mr. Colosio, his wife and two young
children.

Mr. Colosio dedicated his life to public service and to the
betterment of his nation. It is particularly tragic when an assassin's
bullet slays a man who still had so much to contribute to history. It
is a great loss not only for Mexico but for all of North America.

I telephoned President Carlos Salinas de Gotari shortly after
midnight last night to express my sorrow and that of the American
people and to offer my condolences to the Colosio family. I told
President Salinas that the United States stands ready to assist Mexico
in the coming days in any way we can.